Search This Blog

Late Summer Risotto

Inspired by our balcony harvest, this risotto contains the last of the summer vegetables such as peppers, courgettes and tomatoes. But of course it can be adapted to whatever you have available from your garden, allotment - or supermarket! A feast of flavour. Adding the tomatoes at the end means they stay whole, and release little bursts of flavour as you eat.

Late Summer Risotto

Serves 4 as a main course, 6 as a starter.

Ingredients:

1 medium onion, diced

1 red pepper, diced

1 medium courgette, halved and finely sliced

2-3 tbsp of oil from a jar of sun-dried tomatoes

25g knob of butter

1 heaped teaspoon of dried mixed herbs

200g arborio rice

200ml dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio

8-10 sun-dried tomatoes in oil, chopped

250ml mushroom water (see below, or you could use extra vegetable stock)

250ml vegetable stock

120g frozen or fresh peas, softened in a cup of boiling water

25g fresh basil, chopped

25g knob of butter

30g Parmesan, grated

150g very good fresh tomatoes, cut into halves or quarters dependent on size

25g Parmesan, grated or shaved with a peeler to serve

Method:

1. Gently fry the onions in the olive oil and butter for a couple of minutes.

2. Add the peppers and courgette, and continue to fry over a medium heat until softened. Do not allow the vegetables to brown. Season and add a heaped teaspoon of mixed herbs.

3. Add the rice, and stir to coat with the oil and butter. Add another dash of oil if needed.

4. Add the wine and stir for a minute or two until it has evaporated. Stir the sun-dried tomatoes through.

5. Stirring gently, add the mushroom water and then the stock a little at a time. Allow the mixture to simmer gently, and keep stirring until all the liquid is absorbed. Then add a little more, repeating until nearly all the liquid has been absorbed (about 15 minutes). The rice is cooked when it is soft but still has a bit of bite at the centre.

6. Stir the peas and basil through, followed by the butter and Parmesan. Check the flavour and season as necessary.

7. Stir the fresh tomatoes through and remove from the heat.

8. Let the risotto rest for a couple of minutes, then serve with Parmesan shavings and a cold glass of the dry white wine you used in the recipe.

Cats have an unfounded reputation as disloyal, perfidious creatures who live alongside us simply because a bowl of food turns up fairly regularly. They are reputed to be standoffish, overly independent and difficult to understand. Recent research has suggested that cats have a long-term memory of at least a decade, and animal behaviourists are gaining new understanding of their actions all the time. The truth is cats are independent creatures with their own thoughts and opinions on what is and isn't acceptable; we humans just have to put up with it! But do they actually love us? Well, if you think your cat doesn't care, think again.

How excited are your little ones getting about Christmas? With just 6 weeks to go, the wish lists are sure to be growing and you may have even started your Christmas shopping and planning. But what about the all important Advent calendar? Nothing beats opening a tiny window each morning as the December countdown begins, and even better if there is a small toy or chocolate treat behind each door!

I bet you didn't know that play dough conducts electricity, or that it could be the ideal way to kick-start children's interest in electronics and circuits, from as early as age 4. STEM toys and activities have largely centred on technology-led learning and, if kids have no interest in computing, coding or building a robot there aren't many alternatives. Tech Will Save Us seek to plug this gap with their award-winning DIY kits and toys.

The annual top toys for Christmas list was announced yesterday, including LEGO, slime, Barbie, pooping unicorns, L.O.L. Surprise, Paw Patrol and even a new version of Monopoly. Take a look at the list below for our pick of the toys retailers predict will be the top toys for Christmas, and a few more of our top choices too.

In theory, getting pregnant is easy. After all, most of us spend a good many years aiming to not get pregnant, so we assume that when we want to it will all happen easily and quickly. Right time of the month, no contraception and Bob's your uncle, or something like that. In reality, it will take most couples 6 months or longer to get pregnant. But there are plenty of things you can do to boost your chances of getting pregnant - beyond the obvious! Here are 10 things you should do when trying to conceive - and 3 you shouldn't.

This delicious and impressive-looking vegan main course is perfect for Sunday lunch with the family or for special occasions like Thanksgiving or Easter, even Christmas. Even the die-hard meat eaters will be impressed with this one, so make sure you make enough! The quantities given here for the blackberry sauce makes just a small amount to drizzle over the potatoes and parsnips. If you would prefer more, just multiply up the quantities. You can use frozen blackberries for the sauce, just make sure the defrosted weight is correct for the recipe.

OK, I'm going to go ahead and do this, brace yourselves! Christmas. Not much more than 100 days to go, the toy adverts are upping their pace on TV, and the weather might even have decided its autumn already. The holidays are coming as a certain soft drink manufacturer tells us. If you really want to get in the festive spirit this year, why not book a trip to one of Europe's most magical Christmas markets?

If you're looking for something different this Christmas, or you have vegetarian visitors to cater for, this unusual oriental pudding recipe could be just the ticket. This authentic dish from the UK's leading oriental grocer, Wing Yip, will give an extra spice and twist to your festive fare this season.